Federal officials have placed less emphasis on enforcement of conservation compliance, and as a result, erosion rates on cropland are again on the rise.

Written by

Max Schnepf

The public comment period for the state's nutrient reduction strategy has ended, but after spending 50 years working on land and water conservation issues, both nationally and internationally, I feel compelled to offer some thoughts on this policy initiative.

Let me make two points upfront: First, science is no longer the overriding issue in addressing soil erosion control and water quality problems, including nutrient loss. The science exists to improve land and water quality significantly. What does not exist is the political fortitude to make sensible public policy to drive ...